Seat-cane



July z3, 1957;

SEAT-CANE' 2 Sheets-Sheetl l Filed Ilaroh 31. 1953 w. L. CHAMBERS l2,800,164

SEAT-CANE July 253, 1957 INVENToR. 7 yl 0207725@ 5f V2 Sheets-Sheetl 2 ZZ/Or Filld Mareh 31, 1953 United States PatentN SEAT-CANE v Worthy L. Chambers, Chicago, Ill., assignor to National Die Casting Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application March 31, 1953, Serial'No. 345,901

10 Claims. (Cl. 1551-135) Thisinvention relates to improvementsin seat canes.

An object of the invention is to provide `a combination cane and foldable seat of strong and durable construction and relatively light weight.

A further object is to provide a combination cane and foldable seat which is most easily, quickly and conveniently transformable from carrying condition to condition for use as a seat in various circumstances, and back to carrying condition.

A further object is to provide a combination seat cane with improved ground engaging means easily and quickly adjustable for use 4on various surfaces or for convenient carrying.

A further object is to provide` a seat canein which the collapsible seat structure is mostV easily and quickly adjustable from carrying to seating condition land reversely with a minimum of manipulation and which is securely` but very readily releasably retained in carrying condition.

A further object is to provide a seat cane having a very simply and easily operable but secure seat height adjustment.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention are more fully explained in the yfollowing description of` theA preferred embodiments illustratedin the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of an improved seat. cane in 'accordance with the invention and conditioned for use as a seat to be supportedupon soft ground;

Fig. 2 is a further side elevation from the same viewpoint as in Fig. 1 but with the seat collapsed for carrying;

Fig. 3 is a further side elevation similar to Fig. 2l but with the seat cane rotated on its vertical axis through, an angle of 90 from its position of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4` is a partial plan of thehinged connection be. tween the halves of the seat frameand, the head of the supporting column, the seat, frame being inwopened or seating condition as in Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a section in the plane 5-.-5 offFig. 4;

Fig. 6 is atsection similar` to that of Fig; 51 but with the seat framerin closed or, carrying condition;

Fig. 7 Vis asectionin the plane 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig.V 8 is a section similar to that of Fig. lbutshowing `a modified form of` latch;

Fig. 9 is a detail section showing the attachment` of` one `end ofthe exible seat member to one of the seat frame members;

Fig. l0 is a vertical section inthe plane 10-10'01?` Fig. 3` but showingV the ground` spike inreversed and sheathed position for use ofthe seat upon oors, platforms or other hard surfaces;

Fig. 11 is a section in the plane` 11.-11 yof Fig. l0;

Fig. l2 is a bottom plan of a readily removable and replaceable ground plate cover member to avoid slipping on or marking and. marring of finished oors on which the seat may be used;

Fig,v 1 3' is a partial section in the plane 13.-13 of Fig. 12;

23 and is embraced by a slotted clamping ring 24 having` on opposite sides of its slot apair of apertured ears 25 and 26, adapted to be drawn together by a clamping screw 27 and nut 28. The ear` 26, has on its outer face a socket `of polygonal form and size corresponding to that of the clamp nut 2toprevent turning of the latter as the clamp screw is rotated by means of a laterally extending finger portion 29 to tighten or loosen the clamp. Another advantage of this arrangement is that, the nut 28 may be placed in any one of a number of rotated positions, six v for a hexagonalnut and socket, to permit the finger portion 29 of the clamp screw to be located in a convenient position when the screw has been fully tightened. With the clamp loosened the inner tubular member 22 may be withdrawn from or telescoped Within the outer tubular member 21 to any. desired position of height adjustment after which the clamp may be tightened by rotation of thescrew. 27, to contract the clamp ring 24 upon the lower, slotted end of the outer memberY 21 and thereby contract4 the latter upon the inner tubular member 22 to hold the members 21 and 22 securely in adjusted relative` position.

The lower end portion of the inner tubular member 22 is apertured toreceive a pin 30 `formed at one end with aknurledliead 31. The-pin l30 has a portion 32 of intermediate diameter screw threaded into an upstanding ear 34 of aground-plate 36.and also has a smooth cylindrical portion `ofsmaller `diameter extending through the apertures in the member 22 and into a tting cylindrical bore in a second upstanding ear 35 of the ground plate 36. The head 31 of the pin 30 is also slotted as at 33 to receiveA the edge of` a coin to facilitate tightening and loosening. The inwardly facing surfaces of the ears 34 and 35 surrounding the pin 30 frictionally embrace the tubular member 22 with sufficient pressure to retain the ground plate 36 in either the carrying position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 or in the ground engaging position shown in fullLlines but without preventing relatively easy movement of the ground plate from either position to the other.

A groundzspike 38 of generally cruciform section and pointed at one end is formed at its opposite end with an undercut knob 39 or other finger grip element and, relatively, near the latter end, with a transverse generally cylindrical enlargement 40 through which runs a bore fitting fthe pin` 30. The ground spike is also formed above and below the enlargement 4t) with circular Webs 41 closely iitting against the innersurfaces of the inner tubular member 22; By removing the pin 30 the ground spike 38` may easily be removed from the inner tubular member 22 and reinserted therein with either the pointed end extended considerably below the lower surface of the ground plate 36 as in Figs. l, 2 and 3, or in the position of Fig. 10 where the ground spike is substantially completely sheathedv within the inner tubular member 22 and entirely above` the lower ground engaging face ofthe ground plate 36, thereby adapting the seat cane for use upon various ground or oor surfaces. The inner tubular member 2,2 is formed withv an inwardly projecting dirnple 42 to engage one of the other of the webs 41 to prevent the spike 3S from slipping beyond reach within the tube 22 and to aid in aligning the bore in the enlargement s/Vith` the apertures in 'the tube 22. The otherwise lcircular base portion of the ground plate 36 is formed with a slot 37 (Fig. 12) to pass the ground spike 33 when the latter is in the extended position of Figs. l, 2 and 3 as the ground plate 36 is tilted about the pin 30 from its full line position to its dotted line position of Fig. 3,' or reversely.

A cover pad 43 (Figs. l2 and 13), formed with an upwardly and inwardly extending peripheral flange 44 and adapted to completely cover thev ground engaging face of the ground plate 36, is formed of molded rubber or synthetic flexible and resilient material permitting it toV be .1

readily removed from or returned to self-sustaining position on the ground plate. The lower or outer face of the pad 43 may be formed with a suitable anti-slip tread pattern, such as the ridges or ribs 143 shown in Fig. l2. With the cover pad 43 placed upon the ground plate 36 and covering the ground engaging face thereof, the seat cane may be safely used upon finished floors without risk of slipping or of vscratching or marring the linish. Be cause of the resiliency of the material of which it is formed, the ground plate cover may easily and quickly be removed from the ground plate and conveniently carried in a pocket to prevent it from picking up soil, grit or gravel when the seat cane is used out of doors.

A seat supporting head 45 is formed with a doi/w1- wardly opening socket portion tted on the upper end of the outer ltubular member 21, and on its upper portion with two vertical flanges 46 having aligned pairs of bores supporting a pair of hinge pins 47 each extending outwardly into bores formed through ears 49 ina respective one of two seat frame halves 50 which may be of identical form. Each seat frame half is formed as an open frame,

narrower adjacent its hinge end and widened adjacent its' opposite end, and having a plurality of cross members including one, 51, adjacent the hinge ears 49 and a second one, 52 a little distance inwardly from the opposite handle portions 53 and, preferably, also additional strengthening cross elements 54.

A iiexible seat member 55 in the form of a long, widev strap is formed of a plurality of plies of any desired flexible material such as leather, synthetic plastic sheet, textile webbing or the like, at least one of which is of suitable strength. The seat member 55 is secured to the respective seat frame halves by turning its end portions over and around the cross elements 52, passing a rod 56 (Figs. 3 and 9) through closed loops in the ends of the seat member 55, and then tting the ends of the rods 56 in sockets or slots 57 which are formed in the sides of the seat frames. The open ends of the slots or sockets 57 are so located in relation to the closed ends that pull exerted on the rods 56 by tensioning of the seat element 55 is in a direction substantially toward the closed ends of the slots and prevents accidental detachment of the seat member 55 from the seat frame. When the seat frame halves are swung on the pivot pins 47 to the open seating position of Figure l, the seat member 55 is tautly extended as shown in that ligure whereas, when the seat frame halves are brought together (Fig. 2) the seat element 55 folds downwardly between the seat frame halves and the end portions 53 of the seat frame halves together form a convenient handle for carrying the device as a cane. The mode of securernent of the seat element 55 on the seat frame by means of the rods 56 permits of easy and ready removability of the seat element 55 when desired for cleaning, repairing or replacement.

When the seat frame halves lare moved to the vertical position of Figs. 2 and 3 for carrying the device as a cane, the seat frame halves are readily releasably held in such closed position by a latch spring 60 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) which is formed of a strip or ribbon of spring metal with a central portion of generally U-form and end portions in the form of substantially closed loops 61 elongated out- 4 wardly away from each other and surrounding the central portions of the pivot pins 47. When the seat frame halves are in the closed positions of Figs. 2, 3 and 6, the outer ends of the loop portions 61 of the spring 6l) are positioned outwardly underthe outer lower edges of the cross elements 51 of the seat frame halves, and exert sufcient pressure thereon to yieldingly hold the handle portions 53 of the two seat frame halves together as shown in Fig. 2. When the handle portions 53 are pulled apart the outer ends of the loop portions 61 of the spring 6@ are first flexed downwardly somewhat and then are cammed inwardly -to the position of Fig. 5 as the seat frame halves are swung apart toward the position of Figs. l and 5.

A modified form of latch spring 63 is shown in Fig. 8. The spring 63 is also formed of a strip or ribbon of spring Y metal apertured at its center for securement to the mem- 2 faces of the cross elements 51 to readily releasably retain the seat frame halves in closed position. With either form of spring 60 or 63 the seat may be opened or closed by direct manual movement of the seat frame halves apart or together without any direct man-ipulation of the spring latch.

The height of the seat and length of the cane are simply, easily and securely adjustable either by means of the previously described clamp shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 10 and 17 or by means of an alternative form of clamp shown in Fig. 15.

" cramping latch plates 73 which surround the inner tubular member 22 within the enlargement 7l) of the outer tubular member. The latch plates 73 are seated close together at their sides opposite the linger pieces 72 in a pocket formed between inwardly bent portions 74 of the enlargement 70. The plates 73 are normally held apart attheir sides adjacent the linger pieces 72 and in effective frictional engagement with the inner tubular member 22 by means of a coiled compression spring 75 positioned between the plates 73 just within the aperture 71 and having its axially directed ends held in small apertures in the plates 73. Any force applied to eiiect relative axial movement of the members 21 and 22normally tends to move one or the other of the cramping latch plates 73 to a more inclined position to cause it to more tightly hold the inner member 22 against movement relative to the outer member 21, but after simply moving the linger pieces 72 slightly toward each other, the cramping latch plates 73 are released from the inner member 22 to permit easy movement of the latter relative to the outer member 21 to any desired position of adjustment after which, upon release of linger pressure from the linger portions 72, the spring 75 will return the plates 73 to latching position to hold the members 21 and 22 securely in theirrelatvely adjusted positions.

By simply unscrewing and withdrawing the pin 30, the ground plate 36 may readily be removed, after which a small tip member 77 similar in form to a crutch tip or chair leg tip and formed of any suitable non-skid and/ or non-marking material such as rubber or synthetic plastic may be placed on the lower end of the inner member 22 and frictionally held thereon.

A small spring wire clip 80 (Figs. 3 and 16), having a downwardly extending U-bent central portion between outwardly and downwardly diverging portions having their transversely bent ends suitably secured in one of the seat frame halves 50 adjacent the cross element 54, serves both as a convenient hook by which the seat cane may'fbe carriedfrom a belt. and as a. clip to holdsmall articles, such ascardsor gloves.

The, above describedr seat cane-is of 'lightweight and simple but` strong and durable construction. It is` also extremely easily and readily adjustable for convenient carryingfas` acane or attached to, an apparel belt, or for use as a seat ori-various. ground .or iloor surfacesand.very easily and securelyV adjustable` as tocane-length and seat height. i

lI claim:

1. A seat cane having a seat supporting column and a folding-y seat structurel supported on` the upper end of said column, saidseat structurecomprising a pair of seat frame halves, means on the upper end of said column hingedly connected-with one end-of each of saidv frame halves, each of said frame halves-having spaced side elements and a plurality of transverse connecting elements extendingbetween-and having their ends connected with said sidek elementsand includingv a seat-supporting transverse element extending between and` connecting'said side elements relatively remotelyf'rom said-hinged connection, a flexible seat member having each end` portion wrapped over, outwardly around and: under the said transverse element of a respective one of the seat frame halves and terminating in a closed loop, and a` pair of rods each extending throughY a respective one of the end loops of said-seat member, said spaced side elements of each seat frame'half'having-sockets seatingtheends of one of said rods and formed-to permit removalof` the rod ends therefrom only in a direction away from said seat-supporting transverse element of the respective frame half and counter to pull exerted on said rod by said seat member when the latter is tensioned by weight supported by it.

2. A seat cane having a seat supporting column and a folding seat structure supported on the upper end of said column, said `seat structure comprising a pair of seat frame halves, each of said seat frame halves comprising an elongated substantially loop-like frame element, means on the upper end of said column providing a hinged connection with one end of each of said loop-like frame members to permit swinging of said frame halves from spread seating positions to mutually adjacent positions in substantial longitudinal alignment with said column and reversely, in which latter position of the frame halves the portions of said loop-like frame elements together form a handle, and a spring member attached to said hinged connection means and cooperating lwith portions of said seat frame halves to releasably retain said seat frame halves in said latter position.

3. A seat cane according to claim 2,` wherein said hinged connection means comprises hinge pin supporting means on the upper end of said column and hinge pins carried thereby and extending through portions of said loop-like frame elements, each of said seat frame halves having a transverse frame element extending between and connecting the sides of said loop-like frame element near to the respective hinge pins, and said spring member being in the form of a strip of spring material with a U-shaped mid portion and adjoining substantially closed, oppositely extending, elongated loop portions encircling the respective hinge pins with their outward ends extending under and pressing against said transverse frame elements when the frame halves are in said mutually adjacent positions but adapted to be yieldingly cammed toward each other by said transverse elements as the frame halves are swung apart toward said spread positions.

4. A seat cane according to claim 2, wherein said hinged connection means comprises hinge-pin supporting means on the upper end of said column and hinge-pins carried thereby and extending through portions of said loop-like frame elements, each of said seat frame halves having a transverse frame element extending between and connecting the sides of said loop-like frame element near to the respective hinge-pins and having a detent formation thereon, and said spring member being in the form of a strip ofkspring` material secured intermediate its ends to said hinge-pin supporting means and having detent portions'to cooperate with the detent formations of the respective transverse frame elements to releasably retain the frame halves in said mutually adjacent positions after they have been moved thereto butadapted to be yieldingly cammed out of retainingengagement with said detent formations of said transverse elements as the frame halves are swung apartftoward said spread positions.

5. A seat canehaving a seat supporting column comprising inner and outer telescoping tubular members, a foldable seat-supportingstructure secured on one end of oneof. said tubular members, ground engaging means on the oppositeend of the other of said tubular members, theother end portion of the outer tubular member being longitudinally slotted, and means for releasably securing saidtubular members in longitudinally adjusted position relative to each other, said securing means comprising a clamping'ring surrounding-theslotted end portion of said outer tubular member, having a slot extending through said-ring on one Side, and having portions adjacent said slot on each side thereof and formed with aligned apertures, a clamping screw extending through said apertures and having a head witha finger-grip portion on one end, a nut threadedon the other end of said clamping screw, and means on one of said .portions of said ring to hold said nut` against rotation with said screw as the latter is rotated to tighten or loosen said clamping ring.

6. A seat cane having a seat supporting column comprising inner and'. outer telescoping tubular members, a

Y foldable seat-supporting structure secured on one end of one of said tubular members, ground-engaging means on the opposite end of the other of said tubular members, the other end portion of the outer tubular member having an enlargement of internal diameter substantially greater than the outer diameter of the inner tubular member, and the wall of said enlargement having an aperture through one side thereof and a pair of axially spaced inward projections on the side opposite said aperture, and means for releasably securing sai-d tubular members in longitudinally adjusted position relative to each other, said securing means comprising a pair of substantially at annular plates surrounding the inner tubular member within said enlarged portion of said outer tubular member and both seated at one side between said inward projections, and a spring compressed between said plates at the side opposite said inward projections and adjacent said aperture and yieldingly spreading said plates apart at the latter side, said plates each having a finger piece extending from the latter side thereof through said aperture.

7. A seat cane comprising a tubular seat supporting column, a foldable seat structure supported on said column at one end thereof, the other end portion of said tubular column having a pair of transversely oppositely aligned apertures therethrough, a separate ground spike having a head portion of substantial length and transversely dimensioned to fit closely within the interior of said other end portion of said column and having, intermediate its ends, a bore extending transversely therethrough and adapted to register at its ends with said apertures, said spike also having a ground penetrating portion of substantial axial length extending from one end of said head portion and transversely dimensioned for easy insertion within said tubular column, a single removable securing pin extending through said bore and apertures to secure said spike in said other end of said column, said bore and apertures being so located on the column and the ground spike being so proportioned that when the ground spike is in a first position with its ground engaging portion extended into the column the spike is enclosed therein except for a very small portion and when in a second and inverted position the ground penetrating portion projects substantially entirely out of the column, a ground plate member with a ground engaging face and spaced portions extending transversely of and in the direction opposite from said ground engaging fache,`

embracing between them said other end portion of said column, andvhaving openings therethrough registering with saidapertures and receiving said pin for pivotally mounting the ground plate member, said ground plate member having a passageway extending from a central portion to and through an outer edge and normal to the aXis of said pin receiving said ground spike and of greater width than the diameter of the ground spike and accommodating the pivotal movements of the plate member, the ground plate member being so dimensioned that when it is in position transverse to the longitudinal axis of the column, and the ground spike is in its said second position, the ground engaging face of the plate member is spaced from the free end of the ground penetrating portion of the spike.

8. A seat cane according to claim 7, wherein said pin and one of said ground plate member portions are formed with coacting portions for readily releasably securing said pin in said portion, said pin also having a finger grip portion on one end.

9. A seat cane according to claim 7, wherein the head portion of `said spike, at its `end opposite said ground penetrating portion, has a nger grip portion constituting the sole portion of said spike positioned eXteriorly of said column while said ground penetrating and head portions are positioned within said column, said ground plate member being so dimensioned that when it is in its said transverse position its ground engaging face is spaced beyond the end of the column and the ground plate member encompasses said nger grip portion.

10. A seat cane according to claim 7, having a' cover formed of a material of rubber-like. resiliency covering said ground engaging faceof said, ground plate member and having a marginal portion extending *around and over the periphery of said ground plate member to releasably retain said coverV on saidmember,` said cover ,having a slot registering with the passagewaypofl the ground plate member and its marginal portion including portions overlying at least part of the side walls dening the passageway. Y

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSy 887,663 Lee May 12, 1908 1,435,627 Uhl L.-- NOV. 14, 1922 1,895,115 Williams Jan. 24, 1933 1,997,142 Hanson .L .Apr. 9, 1935 2,064,215 Noe Dec. 15, 1936 2,137,799 Brandenburg Nov. 22, 1938 2,582,864 Gittings et al. Jan. 15, 1952 2,609,033v Finke 'Sept 2, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 216,302 Great Britain May 29, 1924 242,419 Great Britain Nov. 12, 1925 279,334 Great Britain Oct. 27, 1.927

599,663 Great Britain Mar. 17, 1948 751,986 France July 3, 1933 

